The meaning of 'functional movement'

Jen Wielgus @jenwielgus

Wednesday

May 29, 2013 at 12:01 AMMay 29, 2013 at 9:29 AM

When I first discovered CrossFit, what really captivated me was the intensity, the variety and the community. I had languished for years on the treadmill at LA Fitness, stewing alone under my headphones, not really getting any more fit and most definitely getting more bored.

Quite frankly, I was a skinny b*tch back then, and my only priority was getting in a good "cardio" workout so that I could a) experience the adrenaline rush I used to get playing competitive sports, and b) stay skinny. I wanted to step in the gym and go all Tasmanian Devil on the Workout of the Day, and performing the WOD "RX," or as prescribed, didn't interest me much. Or, I should say, it didn't send me into a tailspin of self-loathing if I used a lighter weight than was written on the board or used a rubber band for my pullups or handstand pushups (that last one is as exactly as cluster[bleep]y as it sounds.)

The previous paragraph sounds like blasphemy to me now, after more than two years of CrossFitting. My mindset during the past year can be summed up in two words: "GO HEAVY." Not writing an "RX" next to my name feels like failure. Which is an O.K. attitude to have, in some respects. Striving to get stronger is a beautiful thing. Striving to master gymnastics moves is even more beautiful. Unless your hands rip.

And that brings me to the point of this post. Lately I've been feeling a shift in my attitude toward CrossFit training, due to a shift in my priorities. I'm kind of going back in time a bit, to the days when simply getting in a kick-ass workout, and being able to work out regularly in a fun, competitive environment, was paramount. The numbers and letters on the whiteboard were secondary.

I've come to learn some inconvenient truths about myself. One, I have deep-seeded mobility issues, which often lead to movement efficiency issues and [groaning sounds on account of all the soreness]. I'm a normal person who doesn't always have the best nutritional habits or methods of recovery. As a result, I'm dealing with some chronic injuries that have not only hampered my ability to hit the gym as much as I'd like, but my ability to perform my real-life responsibilities, such as my job as a video sports reporter and my role as a wife and aunt to young, energetic kids, with gusto. Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping because I'm in pain. Sometimes, I have trouble focusing during the day and meeting challenges with a positive attitude because I'm in pain -- and I didn't sleep. And, yes, because I'm naturally prone to pessimism and snark.

That said, working out has always been a precious release for me. Exercise is one of the biggest keys to my mental health. It makes me happy. I want to be able to work out on a regular basis, so that I can show the rest of the world the happiest possible version of myself. I don't want to have to stay home injured.

If that means going lighter on the weights, sacrificing the RX, and just going as hard as I can within the boundaries of intelligence and foresight, that's the way it's going to have to be. If that means I never PR another lift, well, I'm not trying out for the Olympic team anytime soon. If that means I focus more on having a good time in the gym and cheering for my friends, all the better.

Functional movement is part of the foundation of CrossFit, and to me, it means MOVING so that I can FUNCTION. Exercise is undoubtedly good for the human body. But it's up to the individual to assess his/her body, its limitations and challenges, and how best to condition it for the demands of life.

My husband is breaking in now to draw attention to this "Supple Leopard" Kelly Starrett mobility book he bought, and how reading and following it with religious fervor (as well as wearing the douchey leopard T-shirt) is the answer to all my problems.

No, he doesn't care if I ever RX another WOD. But there are a few specific functional movements he wants to make sure I can continue to perform into our Golden Years.

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